Tool for running on a drill string in a well bore

Claim 2

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore to seal off the well bore adjacent the tool, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. bore close off means movable through the drill string for seating in said body; and d. control valve means carried on said body and having means responsive to well bore pressure and pressure in the drill string whereby said control valve is movable in one direction in response to increasing pressure differential between the drill string above said bore close off means when seated and the well bore above said packer means to communicate said packer means with the drill string for inflation of said packer means and movable in the opposite direction in response to decreasing pressure differential between the drill string above said bore close off means when seated and the well bore above said inflated packer means to communicate said packer means with the well bore for deflation thereof.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 including means associated with said control valve means to communicate said inflated packer means with the well bore when the pressure in the drill string bore exceeds the pressure in the well bore above said packer means by a predetermined amount.

Claim 4

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore to seal off the well bore adjacent the tool, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. bore close off means movable through the drill string for seating in said body; d. control valve means responsive to the pressure in the drill string above said seated bore close off means with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflataBle packer for inflation and deflation of said inflatable packer; and e. valve means in said body normally closing off communication between the body bore and said control valve means.

Claim 5

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore to seal off the well bore adjacent the tool, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. bore close off means movable through the drill string for seating in said body; d. control valve means responsive to the pressure in the drill string above said seated bore close off means with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflataBle packer for inflation and deflation of said inflatable packer; and e. valve means in said body normally closing off communication between the body bore and said control valve means.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 including valve means in said body normally closing off communication between the body bore and said control valve means.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 4 including seat means on said valve means in said body for receiving and seating said bore close off means, and there being passage means in said body for communicating the body bore with said control valve means after said bore close off means is seated on said valve means.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 4 including means associated with said control valve to communicate said inflatable packer means with the well bore for deflation thereof when the pressure in the drill string above said seated bore close off tool exceeds the pressure in the well bore above said inflatable packer means by a predetermined amount.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 3 including shear valve means in said body which will release the inflating pressure from said inflatable packer means when the pressure therein exceeds a predetermined amount.

Claim 10

In a tool for running a drill string in a well bore for receiving and seating a sample collector in the drill string to collect a sample from the well bore, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. means in said body for seating the sample collector to close off the body bore; d. valve means carried by the sample collector to open and close the sample collector to the well bore below said packer means; e. control valve means carried by said body for directing fluid after the sample collector is seated to first inflate said packer means and then open said valve means in the sample collector to collect a sample from the well bore and then close said valve means to retain the collected sample in the sample collector; and f. means normally closing off communication between the body bore and said control valve means until the sample collector is seated in said body.

Claim 11

In a tool for running a drill string in a well bore for receiving and seating a sample collector in the drill string to collect a sample from the well bore, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. means in said body for seating the sample collector to close off the body bore; d. valve means carried by the sample collector to open and close the sample collector to the well bore below said packer means; e. control valve means carried by said body for directing fluid after the sample collector is seated to first inflate said packer means and then open said valve means in the sample collector to collect a sample from the well bore and then close said valve means to retain the collected sample in the sample collector; and f. means normally closing off communication between the body bore and said control valve means until the sample collector is seated in said body.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 8 including spring means engaging one end of and normally urging said valve means in the sample collector towards closed position.

Claim 13

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore for receiving and seating a sample collector in the drill string, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. means in said body for seating the sample collector to close off the body bore; d. valve means carried by the sample collector to open and close the sample collector to the well bore below said packer means; and e. control valve means carried on said body and having means responsive to well bore pressure and pressure in the drill string whereby said control valve is responsive upon increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflatable packer means to first inflate said packer means and seal off the well bore and responsive upon further increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to actuate said valve means carried by the sample collector to open the sample collector to the well bore below said inflated packer means, and said control valve being responsive upon decreasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to first close said valve means in the sample collector and then upon Further decrease in the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the drill pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to deflate said inflated packer means.

Claim 14

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore for receiving and seating a sample collector in the drill string, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. means in said body for seating the sample collector to close off the body bore; d. valve means carried by the sample collector to open and close the sample collector to the well bore below said packer means; and e. control valve means carried on said body and having means responsive to well bore pressure and pressure in the drill string whereby said control valve is responsive upon increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflatable packer means to first inflate said packer means and seal off the well bore and responsive upon further increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to actuate said valve means carried by the sample collector to open the sample collector to the well bore below said inflated packer means, and said control valve being responsive upon decreasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to first close said valve means in the sample collector and then upon Further decrease in the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the drill pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to deflate said inflated packer means.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 10 including means associated with said control valve to communicate said inflatable packer means with the well bore for deflation thereof when the pressure in the drill string above said seated bore close off tool exceeds the pressure in the well bore above said inflatable packer means by a predetermined amount.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 10 including shear valve means in said body which will release the inflating pressure from said inflatable packer means when the pressure therein exceeds a predetermined amount.

Claim 17

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore for receiving and seating a sample collector in the drill string to collect a sample from the well bore, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. means in said body for seating the sample collector to close off the body bore; and d. control valve means carried on said body and having means responsive to well bore pressure and pressure in the drill string whereby said control valve is responsive upon increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflatable packer means to first inflate said packer means and seal off the well bore and responsive upon further increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to open the sample collector to the well bore below said inflated packers means and said control valve being responsive upon decreasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to first close the sample collector and then upon further decrease in the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to equalize the pressure in the well bore above and below said packer means with the pressure in said packer means and deflate said packer means.

Claim 18

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore for receiving and seating a sample collector in the drill string to collect a sample from the well bore, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. means in said body for seating the sample collector to close off the body bore; and d. control valve means carried on said body and having means responsive to well bore pressure and pressure in the drill string whereby said control valve is responsive upon increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflatable packer means to first inflate said packer means and seal off the well bore and responsive upon further increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to open the sample collector to the well bore below said inflated packers means and said control valve being responsive upon decreasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to first close the sample collector and then upon further decrease in the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to equalize the pressure in the well bore above and below said packer means with the pressure in said packer means and deflate said packer means.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 13 including means associated with said control valve to communicate said inflatable packer means with the well bore for deflation thereof when the pressure in the drill string above said seated bore close off tool exceeds the pressure in the well bore above said inflatable packer means by a predetermined amount.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 13 including shear valve means in said body which will release the inflating pressure from said inflatable packer means when the pressure therein exceeds a predetermined amount.

Claim 21

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore for receiving and seating a sample collector in the drill string to collect a sample from the well bore, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. valve means in said body for seating the sample collector to close off the body bore; d. valve means carried by the sample collector to open and close the sample collector to the well bore below said packer means; e. control valve means carried by said body for opening and closing said valve means in the sample collector; and f. means normally closing off communication between the body bore and said control valve means until the sample collector is seated in said body valve means.

Claim 22

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore for receiving and seating a sample collector in the drill string to collect a sample from the well bore, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. valve means in said body for seating the sample collector to close off the body bore; d. valve means carried by the sample collector to open and close the sample collector to the well bore below said packer means; e. control valve means carried by said body for opening and closing said valve means in the sample collector; and f. means normally closing off communication between the body bore and said control valve means until the sample collector is seated in said body valve means.

Claim 23

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore for receiving anD seating a sample collector in the drill string to collect a sample from the well bore, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. valve means in said body for seating the sample collector to close off the body bore; d. valve means carried by the sample collector to open and close the sample collector to the well bore below said packer means; e. control valve means carried by said body; f. means normally closing off communication between the body bore and said control valve means until the sample collector is seated in said body valve means; and g. said control valve means responsive upon increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflatable packer means to first inflate said packer means and seal off the well bore and responsive upon further increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to actuate said valve means carried by the sample collector to open the sample collector to the well bore below said inflated packer means, and said control valve being responsive upon decreasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to first close said valve means in the sample collector and then upon further decrease in the pressure in the drill string to deflate said inflated packer means.

Claim 24

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore for receiving anD seating a sample collector in the drill string to collect a sample from the well bore, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. valve means in said body for seating the sample collector to close off the body bore; d. valve means carried by the sample collector to open and close the sample collector to the well bore below said packer means; e. control valve means carried by said body; f. means normally closing off communication between the body bore and said control valve means until the sample collector is seated in said body valve means; and g. said control valve means responsive upon increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflatable packer means to first inflate said packer means and seal off the well bore and responsive upon further increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to actuate said valve means carried by the sample collector to open the sample collector to the well bore below said inflated packer means, and said control valve being responsive upon decreasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to first close said valve means in the sample collector and then upon further decrease in the pressure in the drill string to deflate said inflated packer means.

Claim 25

The invention of claim 17 including shock absorbing means supporting said valve means in said body for absorbing shock of seating the sample collector.

Claim 26

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore for receiving and seating a sample collector in the drill string to collect a sample from the well bore, the subcombination including; a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. said body having passage means for communicating with the well bore above and below said packer means; d. means in said body for seating the sample collector to close off the body bore; and e. control valve means carried on said body and having means responsive to well bore pressure and pressure in the drill string whereby said control valve is responsive upon increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflatable packer means to first inflate said packer means and seal off the well bore and responsive upon further increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to open the sample collector to the well bore below said inflated packer means and said control valve being responsive upon decreasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to first close the sample collector and then upon further decrease in the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to communicate fluid above and below said packer means through said body passage means and to communicate said packer means with the well bore for deflation thereof.

Claim 27

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore for receiving and seating a sample collector in the drill string to collect a sample from the well bore, the subcombination including; a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. said body having passage means for communicating with the well bore above and below said packer means; d. means in said body for seating the sample collector to close off the body bore; and e. control valve means carried on said body and having means responsive to well bore pressure and pressure in the drill string whereby said control valve is responsive upon increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflatable packer means to first inflate said packer means and seal off the well bore and responsive upon further increasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to open the sample collector to the well bore below said inflated packer means and said control valve being responsive upon decreasing the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to first close the sample collector and then upon further decrease in the pressure in the drill string above the seated sample collector with reference to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means to communicate fluid above and below said packer means through said body passage means and to communicate said packer means with the well bore for deflation thereof.

Claim 28

The invention of claim 19 including check valve means in said body passage means to equalize the pressure in the well bore above and below said packer means during inflation thereof.

Claim 29

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore for receiving and seating a sample collector in the drill string to collect a sample from the well bore, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. sample collector seating valve means in the bore of said body; d. control valve means movably mounted in said body; and e. there being passage means in said body for equalizing the pressure internally of said packer means with the pressure in the well bore above and below said packer means to aid in maintaining said packer means deflated during drilling operations.

Claim 30

In a tool for running on a drill string in a well bore for receiving and seating a sample collector in the drill string to collect a sample from the well bore, the subcombination including: a. a body for connection in the drill string, said body having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. sample collector seating valve means in the bore of said body; d. control valve means movably mounted in said body; and e. there being passage means in said body for equalizing the pressure internally of said packer means with the pressure in the well bore above and below said packer means to aid in maintaining said packer means deflated during drilling operations.

Claim 31

The invention of claim 21 including means normally closing off communication between the body bore and said control valve means, and there being passage means in said seating valve means and said body for communicating the body bore with said control valve means after the sample collector is seated on said seating valve means.

Claim 32

The invention of claim 22 including valve means in the sample collector for opening the sample collector to the well bore below said packer means and for closing the sample collector, there being cooperating passage means in said body, seating valve means, and control valve means for conducting fluid pressure from the drill string to first inflate said packer means and seal off the well bore while communicating drill string pressure to said valve means in the sample collector to act on both ends thereof to aid in maintaining it closed, said control valve means upon further increasing the drill string fluid pressure in relation to the fluid pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means moving to communicate one end of said valve means in the sample collector to the well bore while communicating drill string pressure against the other end to act on said valve means in the sample collector to open the sample collector to the well bore below said inflated packer.

Claim 33

The invention of claim 23 including spring means normally urging said valve means in the sample collector toward closed position and spring means urging said control valve means against the fluid pressure in the drill string whereby decreasing the pressure in the drill string in relation to the fluid pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means enables said control valve to move and communicate drill string pressure to act on both ends of said valve means in the sample collector and said valve means in the sample collector is closed by said spring means acting thereon.

Claim 34

The invention of claim 24 wherein further decreasing the fluid pressure in the drill string in relation to the pressure in the well bore above said inflated packer means communicates passage means in said body and said inflated packer with the well bore for deflation thereof.

Claim 35

In a sample collector for use with a well bore tubular string wherein the tubular string has a seating valve means for receiving the sample collector, control valve means for controlling opening and closing of the sample collector, and passage means in the tubular string, seating valve means and control valve means for conducting pressure in the tubular string and well bore for actuating the control valve means, the invention comprising: a. a sampler body having a sample collecting chamber therein; b. said sampler body having passage means therein for communicating the sample collecting chamber to collect a sample in the well bore; c. sampler valve means in said sampler body for controlling communication of the passage means to the sample collecting chamber; and d. said sampler body having additional passage means for communicating pressure from the tubular string to each side of said sampler valve means when the control valve in the tubular string is in one position to retain said sampler valve means closed and for communicating one side of said sampler valve to the well bore and the other side to tHe pressure in the tubular string when the control valve is in another position to thereby open the passage means to the sample collecting chamber for collecting a well bore sample.

Claim 36

In a sample collector for use with a well bore tubular string wherein the tubular string has a seating valve means for receiving the sample collector, control valve means for controlling opening and closing of the sample collector, and passage means in the tubular string, seating valve means and control valve means for conducting pressure in the tubular string and well bore for actuating the control valve means, the invention comprising: a. a sampler body having a sample collecting chamber therein; b. said sampler body having passage means therein for communicating the sample collecting chamber to collect a sample in the well bore; c. sampler valve means in said sampler body for controlling communication of the passage means to the sample collecting chamber; and d. said sampler body having additional passage means for communicating pressure from the tubular string to each side of said sampler valve means when the control valve in the tubular string is in one position to retain said sampler valve means closed and for communicating one side of said sampler valve to the well bore and the other side to tHe pressure in the tubular string when the control valve is in another position to thereby open the passage means to the sample collecting chamber for collecting a well bore sample.

Claim 37

The invention of claim 26 including spring means normally urging said sampler valve means to closed position when both sides of said sampler valve are exposed to tubular string pressure, but movable for opening said sampler valve means when one side of said sampler valve is communicated to the well bore while the other side is communicated to pressure in the tubular string.

Claim 38

In an apparatus for obtaining fluid samples from a well bore formation penetrated during the drilling of an oil or gas well or the like with out removing the drill string comprising: a. a body for connection in the drill string having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. a sample collector having a sample collecting chamber therein; d. seating valve means movably mounted in the body bore for receiving and seating the sample collector; e. control valve means movably mounted in said body for controlling opening and closing of the sample collecting chamber and for controlling inflation and deflation of the inflatable element; and f. passage means in said body, seating valve means and control valve means for conducting pressure in the drill string and well bore to said control valve for actuation thereof to selectively open and close the sample collecting chamber and to selectively inflate and deflate said packer means.

Claim 39

In an apparatus for obtaining fluid samples from a well bore formation penetrated during the drilling of an oil or gas well or the like with out removing the drill string comprising: a. a body for connection in the drill string having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. a sample collector having a sample collecting chamber therein; d. seating valve means movably mounted in the body bore for receiving and seating the sample collector; e. control valve means movably mounted in said body for controlling opening and closing of the sample collecting chamber and for controlling inflation and deflation of the inflatable element; and f. passage means in said body, seating valve means and control valve means for conducting pressure in the drill string and well bore to said control valve for actuation thereof to selectively open and close the sample collecting chamber and to selectively inflate and deflate said packer means.

Claim 40

In an apparatus for obtaining fluid samples from a well bore formation penetrated during the drilling of an oil or gas well or the like without removing the drill string comprising: a. a body for connection in the drill string having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. a sample collector having a sample collecting chamber therein with passage means for communicating with the well bore below said packer means; d. seating valve means movably mounted in the body bore for receiving and seating the sample collector; e. said sample collector being removably inserted in said body and seating valve means and having seal means cooperable with said seating valve means whereby pressure may be built up in the drill string thereabove; f. valve means movably mounted in said sample collector for opening and closing the collecting chamber passage means to thereby control communication between the sample collecting chamber and well bore; g. control valve means movably mounted in said body for controlling opening and closing of the collecting chamber passage means and for controlling inflation and deflation of the inflatable element; h. said body, seating valve means, and control valve means having passage means for conducting pressure in the drill string and well bore to said control valve for actuation thereof to selectively open and close the collecting chamber passage means and to selectively inflate and deflate said packer means; i. said sample collector having passage means for communicating drill string pressure to both sides of said valve means when said sample collector is seated in said seating valve means to aid in retaining said valve means closed when said control valve means is positioned to communicate drill string pressure to inflate said packer means and seal off the well bore, and thereafter the passage means on one side of said valve means being communicated with the well bore when said control valve means is moved to another position upon increasing the drill string pressure while the passage means on the other side of said valve means is communicated to drill string pressure whereupon said valve means opens to communicate the sample collecting chamber and the well bore below said inflated packer means for collecting a saMple in the sample collecting chamber.

Claim 41

In an apparatus for obtaining fluid samples from a well bore formation penetrated during the drilling of an oil or gas well or the like without removing the drill string comprising: a. a body for connection in the drill string having a longitudinal bore therethrough; b. reinforced inflatable packer means carried by said body for inflation to seal off the well bore; c. a sample collector having a sample collecting chamber therein with passage means for communicating with the well bore below said packer means; d. seating valve means movably mounted in the body bore for receiving and seating the sample collector; e. said sample collector being removably inserted in said body and seating valve means and having seal means cooperable with said seating valve means whereby pressure may be built up in the drill string thereabove; f. valve means movably mounted in said sample collector for opening and closing the collecting chamber passage means to thereby control communication between the sample collecting chamber and well bore; g. control valve means movably mounted in said body for controlling opening and closing of the collecting chamber passage means and for controlling inflation and deflation of the inflatable element; h. said body, seating valve means, and control valve means having passage means for conducting pressure in the drill string and well bore to said control valve for actuation thereof to selectively open and close the collecting chamber passage means and to selectively inflate and deflate said packer means; i. said sample collector having passage means for communicating drill string pressure to both sides of said valve means when said sample collector is seated in said seating valve means to aid in retaining said valve means closed when said control valve means is positioned to communicate drill string pressure to inflate said packer means and seal off the well bore, and thereafter the passage means on one side of said valve means being communicated with the well bore when said control valve means is moved to another position upon increasing the drill string pressure while the passage means on the other side of said valve means is communicated to drill string pressure whereupon said valve means opens to communicate the sample collecting chamber and the well bore below said inflated packer means for collecting a saMple in the sample collecting chamber.

Claim 42

The invention of claim 29 including seal means between said seating valve means and said body to close the passage means between said body and said control valve means during drilling of the well.

Claim 43

The invention of claim 29 including spring means normally urging said valve means in said sample collector toward closed position and spring means urging said control valve means against the fluid pressure in the drill string whereby decreasing the pressure in the drill string enables said control valve means to move and communicate drill string pressure to act on both ends of said valve means in said sample collector while said packer means remains inflated so that said valve means in said sample collector closes the collecting chamber passage means before deflation of said packer means.

Claim 44

The invention of claim 31 including passage means in said body which upon further decreasing the fluid pressure in the well bore communicates said inflated packer means with the well bore above and below said packer means for deflation thereof.